Shoulder Harness with Carrier Pocket

ABSTRACT

The invention is a shoulder harness with an article carrier pocket, and more particularly to such a shoulder harness especially suited for accurately positioning a magnet on the body for triggering an implanted electronic device in a patient&#39;s body. The harness includes an important feature in an open-topped flexible pocket or pouch dimensioned to receive a magnet for switching a neurostimulator, with releasable fastening means for closing the open top to retain the magnet in the pocket. A first flexible pocket support strap has a length to extend around the patient&#39;s chest under the arms, with length adjusting means to adapt the strap to the size of the patient, and a quick-release fastener for releasably securing the first strap in position. The open-topped pocket has its bottom portion secured to the first strap, as by stitching, and a second flexible strap has a loop on one end slidably received on the first strap in position to extend over the patient&#39;s shoulder from the back and a free end received in a buckle carried on one upper corner portion of the pocket for adjusting the vertical position of the pocket on the patient. The length adjusting buckle may be attached, as by stitching, to the pocket by a short third strap. A gusset preferably extends from the opposite upper corner of the pocket to the first strap to assist in retaining the pocket in a substantially flat condition on the wearer&#39;s chest overlaying the implanted neurostimulator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a shoulder harness with an article carrier pocket, and more particularly to such a shoulder harness especially suited for accurately positioning a magnet on the body for triggering an implanted electronic device in a patient's body.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Implantable electronic devices for the treatment or control of various conditions are well known and are widely used. For example, implantable neurostimulators for applying electric pulse signals to nerves are employed for controlling various conditions. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0039427 discloses the use of such a device implanted in a patient's abdomen, with electrodes positioned to apply the pulse signal to the vagal nerve for purposes of treating obesity. Such devices are also implanted in the chest wall in position to apply a programmed signal to the vagal nerve to control seizures.

In the treatment of certain conditions the implanted device is normally programmed to operate continuously. The applied electrical impulse signals may have side effects, however, and it may sometimes be desirable to temporarily turn the device off. For example, the signal employed to control seizures may materially affect the voice so that a singer or public speaker may want to turn the device off during a performance. At present, this is accomplished by positioning and holding a switching magnet directly over the implanted device so that a magnetically operable switch in the device turns the signal off for as long as the magnet is held in place. In the past, this has been done by taping the switching magnet directly to the skin in the desired location.

While adhesive tape will effectively and reliably retain the switching magnet in position, the repeated frequent use of such tape can adversely affect the skin, and its removal can be painful. In addition, many people have allergy to adhesive tape causing rash or skin blistering—hence, this problem would be eliminated.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simple shoulder harness having a pocket dimensioned to receive and retain a switching magnet for a neurostimulator, and to retain the magnet in a desired location on the body for deactivating the neurostimulator implanted in a patient's body.

It is another object to provide such a shoulder harness in which the magnet pocket is easily accessible for quick and easy insertion and removal of the switching magnet.

Another object is to provide such a harness which is economical to manufacture and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention, an important feature resides in providing an open-topped flexible pocket or pouch dimensioned to receive a magnet for switching a neurostimulator, with releasable fastening means such as Velcro® for closing the open top to retain the magnet in the pocket. A first flexible pocket support strap has a length to extend around the patient's chest under the arms, with length adjusting means to adapt the strap to the size of the patient, and a quick-release fastener for releasably securing the first strap in position. The open-topped pocket has its bottom portion secured to the first strap, as by stitching, and a second flexible strap has a loop on one end slidably received on the first strap in position to extend over the patient's shoulder from the back and a free end received in a buckle carried on one upper corner portion of the pocket for adjusting the vertical position of the pocket on the patient. The length adjusting buckle may be attached, as by stitching, to the pocket by a short third strap. A gusset preferably extends from the opposite upper corner of the pocket to the first strap to assist in retaining the pocket in a substantially flat condition on the wearer's chest overlaying the implanted neurostimulator.

In use of the device, the patient places the first strap around the shoulders beneath the arms and uses the quick release fastener to connect the two ends. The second strap is then extended over the shoulder and connected to the length-adjusting slide attached to the pocket. The lengths of the two straps are then adjusted to position and retain the pocket in overlying relation with the implanted neurostimulator device. The switching magnet may be retained separate from the shoulder harness, for example, in a purse or a trouser pocket, until it is desired to switch off the neurostimulator device, at which time the magnet is inserted into the open top of the harness pocket and the releasable pocket fastener closed to accurately and reliably position the magnet on the patient's body. Conversely, when it is desired to turn the device back on, it is only necessary to open the pocket top and remove the magnet. This can be done quickly and discretely without exposure of the implant area as is generally required when the magnet is taped directly to the skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description contained herein below, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a person, in phantom, wearing the shoulder harness according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the harness shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken in line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a shoulder harness according to the invention is indicated generally by the reference number 10 and includes a first elongated strap member 12 having a first length adjusting slide 14′ near one end thereof and a quick-disconnect fastener 16 for releasably joining its ends. Fastener 16 includes a female coupling element 16 a permanently attached to the end of the strap 12 opposite the length-adjusting slide 14′, and a male coupling element 16 b provided on a strap position 12′ attached by a clip 15 to a loop of strap 12 formed by the slide 14′. Strap 12 is preferably formed of a light weight material such as a woven belting or webbing material of relatively high strength and dimensional stability. A preferably generally rectangular, open topped pocket, or pouch, formed for example of woven fabric has its closed bottom attached, as by stitching, to the first strap adjacent the end thereof opposite the length adjusting slide.

A second elongated strap 20 has a closed loop 22 on one end slidably receiving the first strap 12, and a free second end. A length adjusting buckle 14″ is provided on the 2^(nd) elongated strip to allow for adjusting the length of the 2^(nd) strap. A short third strap 26 has one end joined, as by stitching, to the pocket 18 at the top corner portion 28 thereof furthest from coupling element 16 a, and a clip 24 on its other end in position to receive the free end of the second strap. In order to help maintain the pocket 18 in a generally flat condition, a gusset 30 extends from the other top corner 32 of the pocket 18 and is attached to the strap 12 adjacent coupling element 16 a. A length-adjusting slide 14″ is provided to adjust the length of strap 20.

The pocket 18 is dimensioned to closely receive a magnet 34, and a suitable fastening means such as Velcro® or a snap fastener, indicated generally at 36 in FIG. 3, is provided for closing the pocket to retain the magnet in the pocket.

In use of the shoulder harness according to the invention, the first strap is placed around the chest in the position shown in FIG. 1, and the length of the strap is adjusted to comfortably fit the wearer. The second strap is then adjusted for length to retain the pocket 18 directly overlying the implanted neurostimulator. The device can be worn either over or under clothing, as desired or as dictated by the circumstances. When it is desired to switch the neurostimulator off, it is only necessary to slip the magnet 34 into the open top of pocket 18 and close the fastening means 36 to retain the magnet in the desired operative position on the body. When it is desired to reactivate the neurostimulator, it is only necessary to remove the magnet and store it in a convenient place such as in the patient's clothing, purse, or the like.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described, it should be apparent that modifications might be made, and I wish it understood that I intended to include all embodiments which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. An adjustable shoulder harness with a carrier pocket for accurately positioning a magnet for triggering a electronic device, the magnet received and retained in the carrier pocket in a substantially flat condition on a wearer's chest to overlay an implanted electronic device of the wearer, said harness comprising: a first elongated flexible strap having a length to extend around the wearer's chest and under the wearer's arms, said first strap including first length adjusting means to adapt the length of the first strap to the size of the wearer's chest and a releasable fastening means for releasably securing the first strap around the wearer's chest; a second elongated flexible strap having a length to extend over the wearer's shoulder from a first end in the back of the harness to a second end in the front of the harness, said second strap including second length adjusting means to adapt the length of the second strap to the size of the wearer shoulder, said first end of said second strap slidably attached in the back of the harness to said first strap; and a flexible pocket having a portion secured to the first strap and another portion secured to the second strap in the front of the harness in a manner to position the pocket over the wearer's implanted device, said flexible pocket including an open top to receive a switch magnet and a releasable fastening means for releasably closing the open top of the pocket and retaining the switch magnet in a substantially flat condition over the implanted device so as to allow said magnet to trigger said device, wherein the second length adjusting means adjusts a vertical position of the pocket relative to the wearer's chest. 